Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
French Island
170 km²
Daily life on French Island is centered around a small, ageing population of 139 people living in detached houses. This sparsely populated area is far older than most of Australia, with a typical resident aged 52 and nearly 30% of the community being seniors. It is a quiet, largely non-religious place where many people work from home or in agriculture. The community is notable for its high levels of volunteering and home ownership, creating a stable but isolated rural character.
French Island is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The population is far older than the national figure, with 28.1% of residents aged 65 and over. This has contributed to a decline in children under 15, who now make up 10.1% of the community.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a far lower percentage of overseas-born people (12.9%) than the state average.
English is the main language for 79.9% of the population, while the 11.5% who use another language at home is far below the Victorian figure.
A huge majority of residents—62.6%—report having no religion, which is far above the national average and has risen since 2011.
The community is well-qualified, with 28.3% of adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher, a figure that has risen since 2011.
Incomes are far below the national figure, with the typical household earning $1,014 a week and the typical personal income at $444.
Mental health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 11.5% of residents, though the rate of people needing help with daily activities is quite low.
Volunteering is very high at 35.0%, and a large number of people (40.0%) spend 15 or more hours a week on unpaid housework.
There are no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people recorded in this area.
Many people live alone (35.2%), and households are typically smaller than the state average with 2.3 people per home.
Home ownership is exceptionally high, with 75.9% of homes owned outright and 100% of dwellings being separate houses.
The area is highly car-dependent with no public transport stops, though 42.1% of workers work from home, far above the national figure.
The community is relatively stable, with 32.6% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average.
Employment is dominated by agriculture, forestry, and fishing (36.8%), although the proportion of full-time workers has fallen since 2011.
While the community has a high level of job skills and education, access to general money and resources is lower than in 70% of similar areas.
The area receives 763mm of annual rainfall, which is well above the Victorian average.
The area is entirely car-dependent, with no homes within a 15-minute walk of health services or public transport.
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